Citizen's take a “hard look” at 24 years of the I-395/Route 9 Connector and other Maine transportation boondoggles:
As of February 18, 2024, informaton has been added on the Gorham Connector, a project much like the I-395/Route 9 Connector that my community has experienced for 24 years. Both are boondoggles, throwing hundreds of millions of critical transportation dollars of new pavement and steel at a problem without seriously considering cheaper alternatives to existing infrastructure, at a time when we can't afford to maintain the roads and bridges we already have. Maintaining roads and bridges is not "sexy", transportation officials that demand these boondoggles and the politicians that fund them just love ribbon cutting ceremonies.
This website displays embedded documents that require online google viewer services; if you experience a lag in document downloads and are using Firefox, open applications menu and enable the google pdf viewer extension in the Add-ons & themes section.
Click here for Gorham Connector posts only or keep scrolling to view combined posts on the I-395/Route 9 and the Gorham Connectors.

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
The DOT once avowed they would be seen as “custodians of the environment” for their controversial selection of 2B-2 for this $124+ million project. DOT’s self-imposed-title does not reconcile why the many state and federal agencies, with sign-off on the Environmental Impact Statement, purposely ignored mitigated “I395 PROTECTED WETLANDS” in the community of Brewer…
Loading...
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
Loading...
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
Loading...
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
Loading...
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
12.03.2024 – Latest ASCE report on Maine’s Infrastructure, “mediocre at best” per News Center Maine report. The question be: should we be happy that 400 of our bridges are in poor condition and 26% of our highways are rated something less than good? Maybe if our state didn’t spend all their money on connectors such as $124 million in Brewer and another proposed $331 in Gardner, we would have the money to raise our infrastructure out of mediocrity…
Loading...
12.03.2024 – The Portland Press Herald echoes in with more of the same; I have no comment other than to read it for yourself and ask why…
Loading...
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
11.26.2024 – Bangor Daily News Op Ed:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
11.07.2024 – A few pictures of the transition from the new connector to I-395 and the southbound east/west exit to Brewer; the northbound I-395 exit to Brewer west has been open for some time now.

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
11.06.2024 – Our roads and bridges go unfunded, while expensive connectors get built:
Loading...
Loading...
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
10.27.2024 – Latest report from the Portland Press Herald on how the Gorham Connector affects local homeowners and two 2016 front page/above the fold images from the Bangor Daily News that reflect what we went through.
A few things to note:
Eminent domain means if you don’t take the negotiated price, the state will basically take your property (period). And, don’t expect to be compensated for your whole property as the state may take just the footprint of the connector. If you question that, drive to where the new connector meets Route 9 in Eddington and you will notice a barn and tennis court out all by itself – that land and what is on it was not purchased and is landlocked by the project.
Mention of the treatment of the homeowners in the article: how can one negotiate when you know up front that the process is stacked against you from the start. I was present with a friend that lost his house in Eddington, helping him pack his van, while a representative from the DOT sat out in his driveway with the final check to make sure that his house, a house scheduled to be razed, was swept clean.
Beware of the appearance that the project is halted and you will be part of the process as that is not what we experienced. A technicality in March of 2016 brought the state and feds in force to Brewer and told the Bangor Area Comprehensive Transportation System that local communities would face losing all transportation dollars if the funding for the connector project was not approved by the BACTS. Note the “Hostage” headline below. That is what you can expect in your dealings with the state…
Loading...

Click here to view online.

Click here to view this article.
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
10.09.2024 – Standish Town Council addressing resolution of non-support for the Gorham Connector. (Starts @ 2:31:14 Ends @ 2:57:20) The resolution was moved to a workshop with MTA in January 28, 2025 by a vote of 5 to 2.

Click here to view the above YouTube video.
For those that gave testimony last night hoping for a resolution to be passed, keep up your good work and don’t get too frustrated. You will get some wins and some losses. I attended a council meeting in an adjoining town in 2012 or 2013 that was voting on a resolution of non-support; during the discussion before the vote, two of the members turned the text of the resolution around and the council voted instead to support the project. It was done so quickly that most attending didn’t realize what happened. The vote was later negated as it was outside of normal practices to drastically reword a resolution, but the damage was done. So, I know how you feel.My suggestion is to focus on all the issues and not just the farm as more than one councilman seemed to think it was only the farm that was the issue, we all know there is more.
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
10.09.2024 – TRIP’s September 2024 report on Rural Roads; how does the condition of Maine’s roads and bridges match up with the rest of the nation?
4th worst for bridges and 12th worst for roads in the 50 states begs to ask why the MaineDOT and the MTA promote MEGA projects ($124 million and $331 million respectively) while we drive on unfunded deficient roads and bridges?
Loading...


MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
10.07.2024 – The MaineDOT saw no problem spending $124 million on a connector that the City of Brewer did not support, and the MTA/MaineDOT will spend another $331 million on a connector that the Town of Scarborough does not support, at the same time the State of Maine does not have the funding to properly maintain the roads and bridges we already have. TRIP reports on the current condition of Maine’s Roads and Bridges:
The condition of Maine’s roads and bridges cost Maine motorists $1.6 billion per year – up to $1,824 per driver in the Bangor area.
19% of our major roads are in poor condition; 35% of our roads are in fair condition. That’s twelfth worst in the nation!!
15% of Maine’s bridge are rated poor/structurally deficient – that’s fourth worst in the nation!! 60% of our bridges are rated fair; only 25% of our bridges are rated good.
792 have died on Maine’s roads in 2019 to 2023.
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...


MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
10.03.2024 – Congratulations to those private citizens that worked so hard to bring this project to a pause; I’ve been in your shoes, the deck is stacked against you and it’s not easy to navigate within a unfamiliar process – the DOT/MTA knows this and will use that to their advantage.
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
10.02.2024 – Recent letter from the Maine Turnpike Authority:
Loading...
Note that the MaineDOT and the MTA never answered whether or not they would continue with the project without support from the impacted communities. That should tell you who you are dealing with. As we experienced in Brewer, the MaineDOT ignored the resolutions of non-support from the city and built their project anyway.
Noise – yes they will set up noise monitoring stations and come up with worksheets that show the high noise areas within the study area; but, in the end, they will happily do nothing as they hide behind some stupid regulation that prohibits noise abatement costs exceeding $32,000. My neighborhood is one of the highest noise areas within the study and they did absolutely nothing to abate future traffic noises in an area that was once rural before encroached upon by a highway that we didn’t want and still argue we don’t need.
The traffic noise on the I395/Route 9 Connector will diminish the quality of life of many in the impacted Brewer community, through no fault of their own; the MaineDOT basically said “it sucks to be you” with their non-actions…
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
9.30.2024 – Email sent out from M4ST – I wish them the best!!
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
9.26.2024 – A proposed resolution of non-support against the Gorham Connector, and a unanimous 2015 resolution of non-support against the I-395/Route 9 Connector. They both say the same thing; in Brewer the MaineDOT ignored at least 3 resolutions of non-support from Brewer and built the road anyway…


“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
9.26.2024 – Reports on the upcoming resolution to remove support for the Gorham Connector in Scarborough.
Councilwoman Caterina, one of the no votes to suspend the rules to take up the resolution at the last meeting, gave an honest appraisal of what a resolution does: ” Resolutions don’t mean a darn blessed thing, really legally.” Like her or not, she is correct…
The three communities affected by the I395 Connector issued multiple resolutions against the connector, with the City of Brewer issuing three separate unanimous resolutions of non-support in 2012 and 2013 – the MaineDOT ignored these resolutions and are now in the last year of a $124 million construction project that many did not want…
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
9.19.2024 – How embarrassing – impacted citizens sat through a “workshop” as presented by the MTA with expectations that they would witness their Council vote on a resolution that would remove previous support of the project, only to watch childish bickering that led not only to no resolution, but to absolutely no discussion either…
Loading...
I watched this workshop and subsequent council meeting remotely and offer a couple of comments:
The Brewer City Council backed our movement in 2012 with 3 resolutions of non-support of the I395/Route 9 connector. Seems like there may be some collusion within the Scarborough Council that needs to be acted upon. AND – yes, the resolutions didn’t matter in Brewer and a resolution in Scarborough may also not matter.
The MTA basically said, we’re sorry and we’re going to do better – and – if, if we build the connector… The MaineDOT told us that in 2012 and continued promoting the same alternative that the City of Brewer did not support. They will not listen and will not entertain discussion that doesn’t promote their agenda.
I have now heard twice that if the farm is saved, that will affect 23 homes or a trailer court as if the farm should sacrifice their property to save others.
One of the council members stated that they felt confident that other agencies, such as the Army Corp, will make sure the wetlands are saved. NOT – the “Brewer” connector goes right thru an area marked as I395 PROTECTED WETLANDS on official state of Maine maps. No one will save the wetlands if the MTA or the MaineDOT wants this project.
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
9.18.2024 – News reports from Channel 13 in Portland. In 2012, we went through the same exercise only to be ignored by civil servants that know best (sarcasm). It’s not just 8 homes that will be razed, they will take pieces of properties to establish the connector footprint with total disregard to what is left behind. On Route 9 in Eddington, a barn and tennis court remains where the MaineDOT would only purchase the house and swimming pool and only 1/3 of the land needed for the footprint – the remaining property is now useless and landlocked!!
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
9.17.2024 – Recent article on the Gorham Connector citing lower traffic numbers and increased construction costs:
Loading...
We experienced the same euphoria when we were fighting the I395/Route 9 Connector; traffic numbers were not believable and the kind of traffic itself changed through the years of the study, along with the increased construction costs. At first, the MaineDOT said this connector was needed because of logging trucks using Route 46 as a shortcut to the mill in Bucksport – then the mill closed; next the MaineDOT said the connector was needed because of the influx of Canadians shopping in the Bangor area – then covid stopped that and the mall is now on life support; the latest excuse the MaineDOT used for the connector was the many trucking firms from Eastport that will use the connector when built – so, in the end, the MaineDOT/MTA will change their purpose for the Gorham Connector at will. As far as the cost, money is never an issue.
And, we had the unanimous backing of the City Council in Brewer against this boondoggle in three separate resolutions in 2012/2013 that the MaineDOT ignored and never publicaly addressed.
I wish the best for the people fighting the Gorham Connector, but offer what we experienced to make sure they are wary of the deck that is stacked against you. Good luck!!
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
9.08.2024 – The I-395/Rt. 9 connector is near completion at the southern end. with the exception of signage and lane stripping. The pictures below are of the southbound exit off the connector to Rt 1A in Brewer (both directions).

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
9.08.2024 – Two opinion pieces from the Portland Press Herald concerning the Gorham Connector; one for and one obviously against.
I say once again, to be wary of the silence from the MTA and the DOT – they are still working towards promoting their project.
For those people promoting this connector, that applaud taking properties by eminent domain, they lack the empathy for those unfortunate people that will lose their properties and the many that will suffer a loss to their quality of life. Those who shout NIMBY always seem to have nothing to lose…what if it was in their backyard??
Loading...
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
8.28.2024 – A recent opinion piece from the PPH against the Gorham Connector:
Loading...
Sure, the MTA is “taking a break”, the same thing happened in January 2012 with the Brewer Connector and while the MaineDOT was forced to apologize for their lack of communication from April 2009 until January of 2012, they continued promoting an alternative that was previously removed from consideration at least twice and went directly through wetlands that are clearly marked as I-395 Protected Wetlands on the MaineDOT’s own official project maps. Be wary of silence!!
The following is a copy of an email I sent last month after a query on this website:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
8.07.2024 – MaineDOT announces a Study associated with the Gorham Connector. Not sure what to make out of it, but must warn those fighting the connector to be wary of the DOT’s involvement.
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
8.06.2024 – Climate be damned…
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
7.25.2024 – And, now they want your comments…
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
7.21.2024 – A comparison of today’s PPH article and a recent article in Spectrum News to an article from the Bangor Daily News in January of 2012.
We experienced complete quiet from the DOT from mid-April 2009 until mid-December 2011, when the DOT saw no reason to notify Brewer of the change in preferred alternative that now directly impacted the community. The DOT was forced to make an apology – basically the MTA has just done that in so many words concerning the Gorham Connector. Promises will be made to quell the uprising of local citizen’s concerns.
A comment was posted today on FB: “In today’s PPH Sunday Telegram… the last paragraph in quotations stuck out for me…. “IF the project goes forward”. False hope or is progress being made?”
From the BDN in January of 2012: ““While no decisions have been made regarding whether or how to proceed with the Study, MaineDOT will continue to focus on options that we can permit, build and afford with the least amount of overall environmental and community impacts,” the statement added.” A fancy way to say if…
By January of 2012 the project was essentially completed with the issuance of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement within 3 months.
I have said this before, they do not want your input and as hard as you try, they will simply ignore any concerns that don’t meet their agenda.
Been there, done that and the outcome didn’t change for us – I hope your community does better.
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
7.18.2024 – A PPH Letter to the Editor:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
7.18.2024 – BDN updates the connector project. Would have been nice if the reporter actually reported why this project was so controversial…
Loading...
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
7.14.2024 – Complaints from Facebook on the new configuration of the Brewer exit from I-395 North. I wonder how these people will react when they discover the new Lowe’s jughandle to go eastbound from the connector…
Loading...
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
7.05.2024 – Imagine that, transportation officials leaving key information to themselves as evidenced in this Portland Herald article. The MaineDOT will still not answer why the new connector in Brewer goes through an area clearly marked on official state maps as “I395 PROTECTED WETLANDS”. Will this possible historic designation save Smiling Hill Farms? Not necessarily….
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
6.30.2024 – A lot has happened in the past week – more guard rails have been installed and the I-395 North/Brewer exit has been reconfigured to the new connector:

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
6.28.2024 – Channel 2 Portland/Bangor reports on the Gorham Connector:
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
6.26.2024 – Progress at Levenseller Road:

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
6.23.2024 – A lot of changes to the south of Eastern Avenue: shoulders established and another layer of asphalt on the travel lanes; guard rails, lighting and painted lines on what I believe is the new Brewer exit from I-395 northbound:

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
6.18.2024 – The Eaton Brook bridge is near completion, more paving over the last few weeks, shoulders being established and fencing installed:













MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
6.14.2024 – A pertinant comment from a recent BDN article:

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
5.26.2024 – (Edited on 5.27) Received the following comment: “In particular, how does a motorist coming from Brewer on US1A access the extension? It appears that the only entrance from 1A is a 90 degree exit from the bridge. Am I missing something. I have never heard from or seen anything in the BDN or on any other media form.”
Below is sheet #2 of the construction plans for those that want to attempt to figure out the traffic flow for themselves.
I don’t profess to be an expert as I am also having an issue figuring out how Brewer traffic will safely enter the connector without crossing opposing traffic.
Also, many people may not be aware that in order to go eastbound on Route 1A towards Ellsworth, you first will have to travel westbound past Lowes’ and turn immediately right into the new jughandle and turn right into Lowe’s exiting traffic, before turning left at the light on Route 1A.
Some Mainers can’t merge onto a highway without first stopping; this jughandle and the rest of the “maze” is an area you may want to “steer” clear of until the bugs are worked out…

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
5.26.2024 – Recent Oped in the Portland Press Herald:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
5.11.2024 – A walk from Eastern Avenue over the Eaton Brook Bridge towards Lambert Road:

Two properties overseeing the Eaton Brook area:




In the distance can be seen the Lambert Road and Clewleyville Road bridges:

A view back towards Eastern Avenue:

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
5.05.2024 – Progress at the Eaton Brook Bridge: southern part now has composite rock up to just below the deck surface – northern part of bridge has foundation work completed.

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
5.05.2024 – Three opinions, pro and con, concerning the Gorham Connector. The first two articles to not permit comments, so one wonders what the masses would say if they were able to. The first is by MTA’s Peter Mills promoting his favorite project and the second is by a gentleman that owns a business park which could easily profit from the connector. I may be wrong, but I think that was the older gentleman that spoke melancholy about railroads at the first public meeting. The third article addresses climate concerns and has a few comments:
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
5.01.2024 – The MTA Facebook page – seems nobody likes the MTA’s proposal…
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
4.28.2024 – Ongoing work south of Eastern Avenue to Wilson Street.

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
4.26.2024 – Progress for the week at Eaton Brook:

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
4.25.2024: Letter to the Editor – Portland Press Herald/Forecaster/American Journal:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
4.22.2024 – Grow Smart is against the Gorham Connector and wants a Governor Mills group to look at it as “it will irrevocably harm the environment for unclear benefits.”
Loading...
Don’t look to Governor Mills to stop this project. Why do I say that? I thought Governor-elect Mills would want to take another look at the I-395/Route 9 Connector and I provided her transition office with the following documents:
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Did Governor Mills read anything I sent? Apparently not…
The following is an email that I sent to Governor Mills on 1.18.2019:
Loading...
The following is an unsolicited response from the MaineDOT on 1.25.2019, apparently sparked from the email sent to the Governor on 1.18.2019 ; as usual just talking points with no real answers:
Loading...
The following is an email that I sent to Governor Mills on 1.30.2019:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
4.21.2024 – Work continues on the Eaton Brook bridge, north of Eastern Avenue:

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
4.19.2024 – PPH Letter to the Editor:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
4.18.2024 – Saving a farm in Maine – what about Smiling Hill Farm??
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
4.14.2024 – Progress at Clewleyville Road:

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
4.14.2024 – North of Eastern Avenue to Eaton Brook:

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
4.13.2024 – Early morning walk south of Eastern Avenue to Wilson Street. These wetlands are indeed extremely wet after recent rains – a section of Felts Brook and the Felts Book wetlands are documented as “I-395 PROTECTED WETLANDS” on the official MaineDOT project map.
This “I-395 PROTECTED WETLANDS” designation was first observed be many of us in 2012 and it was – and still is – our contention that this was the previous environmental mitigation from the original I-395 extension project in the early 80’s. Can a government entity impact a previously mitigated property? Apparently so, since the state of Maine did it in Brewer.

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
4.12.2024 – A PPH Letter to the Editor:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
4.10.2024 – Tree and brush clearing continues north of Eastern Avenue. The deck was poured on the Eaton Brook bridge today, just finishing up as pictures were taken:

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
4.10.2024 – A Letter to the Editor of the PPH concerning Smiling Hill Farm:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
4.09.2024 – If you would like to help Smiling Hill Farm – here’s your chance:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
4.09.2024 – Clear-cutting the sides of the connector just north of Eastern Avenue:
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
4.09.2024 – Looks like the Eaton Brook bridge is ready for concrete decking:

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
4.03.2024 – A Portland Press Herald article. Do we really need to ask why Maine’s dairy farms are dwindling? Maybe we can have the governor ask her brother…
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
4.03.2024 – Another Letter to the Editor on the Gorham Connector:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
3.30.2024 – A snarky Letter to the Editor – pros and cons and NIMBY accusations:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
3.30.2024 – Back to the I-395/Route 9 Connector – bridge deck has not been poured at Eaton Brook, suspect they will pour in conjunction with work at the Levonseller Road Underpass. Water is higher than normal with the recent storms:

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
3.30.2024 – How can one reconcile a program to protect farm land from development at the same time that farmland in the area is being threatened by eminent domain?
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
3.29.2024 – Gorham Connector Public Hearing #1 held on 3.25.2024:
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
3.29.2024 – Support Smiling Hill Farm – Maine cannot lose another dairy farm!!
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
3.28.2024 – Portland Press Herald Oped posted today:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
3.27.2024 – Bike Coalition of Maine weighs in on the Gorham Connector:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
3.27.2024 – Latest article in the Portland Press Herald:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
3.27.2024 – This was dismissed by the panel at the Gorham Connector public meeting:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
3.27.2024 – Is the Gorham Connector a boondoggle? StreetsBLOGUSA thinks so:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
3.27.2024 – An OPED that appeared in the Portland Press Herald on Feb. 27, 2024:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
3.26.2024 – Comment from below article in the Portland Press Herald:
Loading...



“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
3.26.2024 – Public Meeting in Gorham with 109 comments from the Portland Herald.
Loading...
Comments to the Gorham Connector Public Meeting held on March 25th:
First, I would say that the off-site presentation was less than under-whelming, limited to prepared screen shots with no live video that would capture the expressions of the panel and the speakers.
Although our community was included from the start of the I-395/Route 9 Connector study, unlike what has just occurred in Gorham, it was very familiar.
Several of the panel members spoke condescendingly to summarily dismiss almost every comment and concern of each speaker you dared to voice their opposition.
The MTA has all the answers and don’t express concern over their data when challenged, because – simply – it is their data. Our community also questioned the traffic data presented and the fact that it was too old to depend on.
When you deal with transportation people, you must remember, all they know what to do is build roads; you can’t expect these people to consider anything else than the alternative that they presented last night. They tried to go headfirst into why they are “attacking” the Smiling Hills Farm and that fell flat on its face.
Several people voiced concerns over the environment and the native trout. What people don’t realize is that, the whole purpose of an environmental impact statement is to advise the public of the final impact of the project, not to necessarily stop the project.
Environmental officials, state or federal, will not save the farm. In Brewer, the connector project goes right through an area cleared marked as I-395 PROTECTED WETLANDS on official State of Maine maps used by the MaineDOT, which I contend is prior mitigation.
Several times, the audience was told that this is just the initial engineering, as if change can be or will be made; our experience shows that any change will be minor and no change will be made to favor the human element. The human element does not matter because they should be happy to support the project by losing their property to eminent domain as non-impacted people point to them and call them NIMBYs.
If you didn’t know better, it looked at the end that the people supporting Smiling Hill Farm won the day and the MTA would quickly withdraw; but that is not what will happen.
A comment was made that changes to save the farm would not be made unless local officials get behind the opposition. We had our city elected officials behind us; they issued 3 unanimous resolutions of non-support of the selection of 2B-2 as the preferred alternative for the I-395/Route 9 Connector. Those three resolutions went unanswered by the DOT and we suspect that the MTA will act the same.
We also submitted a petition against the I-395/Route 9 Connector – like the resolutions, the DOT ignored it.
I have operated this website since 2014, but have been involved in public participation since the year 2000 and became actively involved at the end of 2011. Even though we lost the battle, I have kept the site going as an advisory to those who may be interested in the progress of the construction and to blacken DOT’s eyes every time I get the chance. I started adding the Gorham Connector information as a way to retell our story as they sure are similar.
At some point, even though the Gorham Connector is a MTA project, the DOT will get involved and inform your town’s elected officials that if the town’s opposition is not quelled, funds will be cut off for future projects in the area.
Sadly, that’s been our experience.
Again, I wish Mr. Knight and his family well…
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
3.25.2024 – Pre-public meeting anti-Gorham Connector sentiment:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
3.25.2024 – A Technical Memorandum dated January 2024. As I have said in previous posts, our experience, when a project gets to the point when they are “proudly” showing it off to the public, it is far too late for private citizens to have their concerns addressed and make changes to the project.
However, a change was covertly made to the I-395/Route 9 Connector routing, sometime between the June 2016 Record of Decision and the November 2021 construction bidding package to remove the planned eastbound Route 1A turning lane that encroached upon the Eastern Maine Health Care parking lot. Obviously, to satisfy the largest employer in the area, that change necessitated the addition of the “jughandle” adjacent to Lowe’s that also utilizes Lowe’s exit ramp to turn eastbound on Route 1A towards Ellsworth.
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
3.25.2024 – A News Center Maine report on the Smiling Hill Farms aired on Feb. 23rd:
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
3.25.2024 – Bangor Daily News article on the Gorham Connector. Smiling Hill Farms is refusing to sell the land that the MTA needs for their project. The Knight family may lose 45 acres to eminent domain and the MTA will not lose a night of sleep. Mr. Mills already admitted to using eminent domain at least once so far to support his project.
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
3.24.2024 – Letter to the Editor in the Portland Press Herald with 26 comments:
Loading...
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
3.23.2024 – A commentary on the Gorham Connector; is it a boondoggle?
Loading...
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
3.22.2024 – An interesting 2016 article from STRONG TOWNS which gives you an idea of the mindset of Transportation officials, whether it is the I-395/Route 9 Connector or the Gorham Connector, and how impacted communities are treated when private citizens and their elected officials voice their opposition.
Loading...
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
3.21.2024 – Latest articles from the Portland Press Herald on the Gorham Connector:
Loading...
I wonder how much, if any, public involvement was sought since the study started in 2017. Is this a questionable routing for this project, much as the controversial selection of 2B-2 as the preferred alternative for the I-395/Route 9 Connector was such a surprise for the community of Brewer? Mr. Knight seems truly surprised at the level of damage this connector will do to his property.
People will go to next week’s meeting thinking that their comments and concerns will be listened to – they won’t. This is a done deal and eminent domain gives Mr. Mills the power to do so. What support will Mr. Knight get from the public? Some will claim he’s a NIMBY, some of those will live on a competing alternative and some of those value their quality of life while diminishing others. It’s easy to point fingers when you aren’t the one losing your property.
Mills told the American Journal, “It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” What a clueless statement to make! Been there, done that; allow the people to think they are actually being listened to and then summarily dismiss them without further explanation. Eminent domain allows Mr. Mills to do just that, no matter how it affects the landowner. I wish Mr. Knight well…
“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
3.20.2024 – This is why progress seemed so slow at Eaton Brook:
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
3.20.2024 – Haven’t been to the north in a while and can’t believe the progress made.
Clewleyville Road Underpass:

Levenseller Road Underpass:

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
3.17.2024 – Pictures taken on the 16th – the bridge deck has been prepped for concrete; note the horizontal piping at the left and right sides of the deck – that is what the bridge decking machine rides on.

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
3.09.2024 – Not much progress at Eaton Brook, except the ice is out…

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
3.03.2024 – Quite a few of these are located from Eastern Avenue to Eaton Brook; thought it could have been an escape route for any animal trapped within the fenced in connector and that’s exactly what it is per the plans: “DEER ESCAPE JUMPOUT”.




MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
3.03.2024 – Another article concerning the Gorham Connector:
Loading...
Comments on this article:
“Out of the approximately 50 landowners who would be impacted by the proposed Gorham Connector, 35 are in Scarborough…The turnpike authority has secured the rights to one-third of the Scarborough properties and another third are in negotiations. The remaining properties would involve small easements, such as taking slivers of front lawns or backyards.”
Does that mean 12 lucky homeowners are expected to be happy to lose “slivers of front years or backyards” and have a highway whizzing past their property? Those “slivers” will obviously affect the monetary value of one’s property and the eminent domain offer for those “slivers” may not offset that loss. Mr. Mills seems almost giddy that losing “slivers” of one’s property should be acceptable.
And the 12 properties currently in negotiations, I would add that if you don’t take their offer, eminent domain kicks in; doesn’t seem a fair way to negotiate, take the deal or see you in court and don’t show up without lawyering-up…
No mention to the disposition of the 15 landowners not residing in Scarborough…
“The turnpike authority is working with the Army Corps of Engineers, Maine Department of Environmental Protection and other entities and to conduct mitigation efforts, he said.”
“Alternative 2B was dismissed at PAC Meeting #11 on February 20, 2002 because MDOT and FHWA thought, as a condition of the Record of Decision, or the Section 404 permit, or both, for the existing section of I-395, additional impacts to Felts Brook would not be permitted and therefore this alternative was not ‘practicable’ under the law.” (October 2003 Memorandum)
“At the fourth interagency meeting on March 12, 2002, the agencies stated that the permit for the existing section of I-395 was not conditioned to prevent further impacts to Felts Brook, and that Alternative 2B should be considered practicable under the law and should continue to be evaluated.” (October 2003 Memorandum)
The “Army Corps of Engineers, Maine Department of Environmental Protection and other entities”, tasked as fundamental protectors of the environment with project sign-off authority on the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), failed “to ensure they keep the impact on wetlands as low as possible” by signing-off on a project sanctioning the MaineDOT to ram right thru wetlands, identified on State of Maine maps as “I-395 PROTECTED WETLANDS”, north and south of the intersection of the original I-395 extension and Wilson Street/Route 1A in Brewer.
Every action should have been exhausted when the MaineDOT asserted that they couldn’t find written evidence that the “I-395 PROTECTED WETLANDS” designation was accurate on the official map that the MaineDOT used then and still uses now for mapping their projects statewide.
I would submit that it would take “an act of Congress” to place that kind of designation on an official state of Maine map in the first place and I would also submit that, the existence of the map alone, even without documentation in the deeds in property that the state of Maine already owned, should have been enough to forever keep 2B from consideration.
Was the “I-395 PROTECTED WETLANDS” ignored simply because someone didn’t correctly document the mitigation 40+ years ago? That can be the only logical reason that the State maps ended up with said designation in Brewer.
This should prove to all, that in the end, the environment really doesn’t matter.
Alternative 2B was once again officially removed from consideration at the January 15, 2003 PAC meeting for safety reasons and the fact that it didn’t meet purpose and needs.
The May 13, 2003 interagency meeting, a combination of state and federal agencies, selected alternative 3EIK-2 and no-build for further study, as would be further documented in the “Technical Memorandum and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Highway Methodology Phase I Submission” dated October 2003, and signed off by the MaineDOT, the FHWA and the ACOE.
The local Army Corp of Engineers manager was instrumental in the resurrection of alternative 2B once again in September 2003, working with a contingent of Holden anti-3EIK-2 folks, without buy-in from the MaineDOT and FHWA project managers.
Why the ACOE enabled 2B (resurrected as 2B-2) to be placed back in consideration, even before the ink dried on a document that identified why 2B was removed from further consideration, a document that also accepted 3EIK-2 as the presumptive preferred alternative, was highly questionable.
In my opinion the local ACOE manager should have recused himself from the permitting process after demanding 2B-2 be put back in play outside of the normal MaineDOT/FHWA and PAC process.
“One of the things we might wind up doing is offering up, as part of the mitigation, a fair amount of ground (for preservation) of existing wetlands and open land,” Mills said. “There is some significant, very interesting open land in this region that actually deserves to be preserved and kept.”
Again, good luck with that. Not only did the I-395/Route 9 Connector go through what I contend is the previous environmental mitigation for the I-395 extension in the early 80’s, the mitigation for encroaching upon these identified wetlands for the new project did not stay in Brewer, it was transferred to an area in Holden that I believe was part of the original 3EIK-2 alternative. Many in Brewer felt that as a slap in the face as Holden was the least impacted community by 2B-2.
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
3.01.2024 – a recent article from the Portland Press Herald:
Loading...
Why is the Gorham Connector project so important to post to this website?
After living through the I-395/Route 9 connector study/project for the past 24 years, there are similarities these two projects share and our hard-learned experiences can predict what those who oppose the Gorham Connector project will endure.
According to this article, Red Brook has one of the last populations of native brook trout in the state of Maine; we had salmon in both Eaton Brook and Felts Brook. Interestingly, the gentleman that did the majority of the salmon research in our study area left his position following the survey and his field notes went missing forcing another survey by possibly less qualified individuals.
“The road itself will also contribute oil, salt and other runoff to the river, polluting the water.” We share this concern as the I-395/Route 9 connector crosses Felts Brook and Eaton Brook at several locations and transits through several previously identified wetlands.
Many years ago, Felts Brook was identified as Brewer’s priority watershed as it encompasses 50% of Brewer’s landmass. The water quality of Felts Brook is designated as Class-B, suitable as a habitat for fish and aquatic life and also as a drinking water supply following treatment. The City of Brewer advised the Army Corp of Engineers in July of 2021 that “We also think that the City of Brewer should not bear the financial burden of restoring the water quality of Felts Brook if the construction of the I-395 extension causes it to be impaired.”
According to this article, a public meeting will be scheduled in March to discuss the Gorham Connector project. We endured 9 years of such public participation during the I-395/Route 9 Connector Study, a study that many thought had ended following what would become the last Public Advisory Committee meeting on April 9 of 2009. At that time, 2B-2 met only 20% of the Purpose and Needs and the 3EIK-2 alternative was the MaineDOT/FHWA preferred alternative.
Common thought was the study was going nowhere because of the lack of funding resources and annual budgetary shortfalls in the MaineDOT’s Roads and Bridges program as high as $360 million by the end of 2010. No mention was made of any progress in the study since the April 2009 PAC meeting, nor were any future public meetings scheduled.
We would discover, purely by accident in mid-December 2011, 32 months since the last PAC meeting, that state and federal officials covertly continued their work, exhibiting a complete lack of transparency; we were shocked to find that an alternative that met only 20% of the Study Purpose and Needs (2B-2), that directly affected the Brewer community, was now the preferred alternative. Was this lack of transparency a lapse in judgement by MaineDOT officials or was it intentional because they knew what the pushback would be by selecting an alternative that had been removed from consideration several times previously and did not meet purpose and needs?
Unknown to us at the time, December of 2011 found the study in chaos when the FHWA project manager advised his counterpart, the MaineDOT program manager, that 2B-2 did not meet purpose and needs; this of course was not what the MaineDOT wanted to hear as their minds were already made up, and in the end the FHWA project manager was silenced. None of this was made public until the FOAA of March 2012 as requested by the town of Eddington. All of this story and the applicable FOAA documents can be found on this website.
The MaineDOT issued an apology for their lack of transparency over that 32-month period in the Bangor Daily News on January 6, 2012: “The Maine Department of Transportation…regrets the insufficient outreach by MaineDOT to leaders of the affected communities along the proposed I-395 US Route 9 connecter [sic],” the statement read. “Town officials and the residents of Brewer, Holden, Eddington and Clifton deserve to be fully informed of all decisions and progress. We recognize that it is our obligation to do so, and we will rectify this situation in the future.”
That being said, the MaineDOT continued to promote 2B-2, an alternative that both the MaineDOT and the FHWA had both previously said would not satisfy the study purpose, the system linkage need or the traffic congestion need.
We had been told by the MaineDOT, throughout the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process, from the draft to the final version, that our comments and concerns would be fully addressed, yet our comments and concerns were summarily discarded. The Brewer City Council issued at least 3 different resolutions of non-support, along with similar resolutions from Eddington and Holden.
I feel sorry for those who will be impacted by the Gorham Connector; I feel sorry for the people that will go to public meetings thinking they have real input to the process, hoping to minimize the impact to their community; I feel sorry to those that will lose properties to eminent domain.
You can refuse the monetary offer during eminent domain, but if you do, you are immediately told that the next step would be in court and you have to come lawyered-up. And, what people don’t realize is that the MaineDOT, and presumably the Turnpike Authority, is only interested in obtaining a “footprint” for the project and may not necessarily purchase your whole property.
Some properties may be left land-locked, as in our area where several land owners have lost access to what is left of their properties bisected by this project. One couple in Eddington lost their house, horse corrals, swimming pool and a few acres of land to eminent domain, and was left with the barn, the tennis court and acres of land on the wrong side of the connector, with no access, rendering what is left as useless.
In Brewer, the new connector transits an area of “I-395 PROTECTED WETLANDS” as clearly documented on official state maps, first noted in early 2012 that still exist today, only to be denied by the MaineDOT. I have said, since discovering this map, that this must have been the environmental mitigation from the original I-395 construction decades ago, the MaineDOT disagreed. The same map is still being used in 2024 by the MaineDOT and the area around the intersection of I-395 and Wilson Street is still designated as “I-395 PROTECTED WETLANDS”.
Vernal pools became an issue towards the end of our study, yet the vernal pool survey was done by different individuals in Holden (3EIK-2 alternative) than those that did the survey in Brewer (2B-2 alternative), leading many to question the validity of the findings. Even the Federal EPA representative thought the results were unusual and was surprised that the Brewer alternative had so few vernal pools when compared to the Holden alternative.
Did the MaineDOT keep us advised as promised in January 2012? Not so much…
I’m not sure how many people are aware of the jughandle that has been constructed adjacent to the Lowe’s entrance on Wilson Street. The jughandle tees onto Lowe’s access road to Wilson Street, allowing traffic exiting the new connector to reverse direction and go eastbound towards Ellsworth and Calais. This reverse direction design was not part of the January 2015 Final Environmental Impact Statement or the June 2016 Record of Decision and only deemed necessary when the original design, encroaching upon the Northern Lite Cancer Care parking lot, was apparently dropped. We only learned about the design change when the bidding packages were sent out towards the end of 2021.
I predict this jughandle, a design extremely rare in our state, will become an embarrassment to the MaineDOT and will cause unnecessary traffic issues in an area that already has congestion issues in the summer months. If locals can’t figure out that merge signs on the highway don’t mean STOP, seeing them use this jughandle should be comical.
No matter how strong you think your case may be, it is really true that you can’t fight “city hall”. Don’t buy into the public participation process; they will ask for your input because state regulations require it and they will then ignore any input that doesn’t promote their end result.
In the end, salmon and trout don’t matter, wetlands don’t matter, nor apparently anything else in the environment.
Opponents to the Gorham Connector will be strung along until, without fanfare, the Turnpike Authority and the State of Maine will do exactly what they want, no matter the concerns of the community and their elected officials.
That has been our experience…
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
2.29.2024 – Figure out the traffic flow. Bonus points for using the jughandle at Lowe’s….

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
2.28.2024 – From a January 2016 newsletter, all quotes are from MaineDOT documents:
Loading...
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
2.25.2024 – Progress south of Eastern Avenue towards Wilson Street and I-395:


Several of the following structures have been erected from Wilson Street to Eaton Brook; thought at first they were merely blocking access, but I’m guessing that they allow wildlife to escape the connector…

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
2.25.2024 – Considerable progress at the Eaton Brook bridge over the last week:

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
2.19.2024 – A lot of progress at Eaton Brook over the last month:

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
2.18.2024 – Interesting article on a future project in Gorham. Much of the same was once said with the connector now being built in Brewer’s backyard. There will be meetings, only because by law they have to involve the public in the decisions; eminent domain will be used as it was on this project where the DOT took at least 8 homes and left several plots of land without access. In the end, the Gorham project will be built no matter what the cost to homeowners and the environment and no matter what the public says because the state doesn’t care what the public says – just like this connector.
Loading...
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
2.13.2024 – The MaineDOT claims that there will be $zero unmet transportation needs for 2024/2025 due to additional taxes and bonding – yet – year 2026 will go back to a $200 million shortfall in unmet needs:
Loading...
MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)
2.12.2024 – Latest pictures of progress to the north.
Clewleyville Road:

Levonseller Road:


1.15.2024 – Latest pictures of Eaton Brook following the recent storms:


1.11.2024 – A question never answered:
Loading...

Pictures taken on December 25th of mainly the connector south exit at Wilson Street for East and West Brewer traffic. This ramp will soon merge with the existing I-395 to Brewer West and I-395 South exit off Wilson Street. To go East on Wilson Street, with this new connector, requires one to first travel westbound past Lowe’s and enter the “to the east” jug handle. How will that workout? I predict, not so well..


Pictures taken on December 24th of the blasting progress on Levonseller Road:

Guard rail damage on the Easter Avenue Underpass from wind storm of 12/18/23:


Pictures taken on December 24th of progress at Eaton Brook:










Water main under the Eastern Avenue Underpass:

